The Ultimate Checklist for Setting Out On a Trip

With rising incomes and decreasing airline fares, travel is rapidly expanding around the globe. Everybody knows to bring a toothbrush, but it’s easy to forget other essentials like USB chargers, international sim cards… and VPNs.

Before you hit the road, go through this travel pro checklist.

– GUEST POST FROM Harold Kilpatrick–

1. What you absolutely cannot forget

The best way to organize for a trip is to create a hierarchy in your head ranking items for the most to least important. These days no matter where you go in the world, most things are replaceable. You can always get a new pair of headphones or buy some socks. However, the three most important things are your passport, wallet, and phone. Without these items, you won’t be able to do anything. Take advantage of your phone and use it to store key information like flight and hotel reservations, directions and local information.

2. Prepare your technology

Most people travel with a range of digital devices. This not only includes smartphones but also laptops, tablets, cameras, and other tech. You’ll want to begin with your phone. Without an international roaming plan, you could end up spending hundreds of dollars or more in fees.

Nowadays, most cell phone carriers around the world allow you to add a data-roaming package for the duration of your trip. You can select to have multiple country options or just one depending on your travel plans. In some cases, it may just be cheaper to buy a local sim card.

Many travellers also rely on free WiFi in places like airports, cafes, and restaurants. Using free WiFi will definitely save you some cash, but you need to be careful. Use a VPN anytime you connect to a public network. What is a VPN? It’s a virtual private network, which anonymises and protects your network connection preventing hackers from stealing your data (read more).

3. Separate your carry-on and checked luggage

Even if you don’t check your bag, it’s good to have one piece of luggage for your essentials and another for everything else. Your essentials bag should be lightweight and contain only things you’ll need easy access to on the flight as well as for going through customs and other security checks:

● Passport/Identification

● Wallet and local currency

● Phone and other electronics you plan to use in-flight

● Travel documents

● USB Charger

● Bottle of water

● Reservation itineraries and phone numbers

● Copies of all essential information

Be sure to let your bank and credit card company know that you will be traveling. You can do this by either calling the company or through their app. This will prevent your card issuer from locking you out because of unusual activity.

4. Secure your home

Prepare your home for your trip. Lock all windows and doors. Likewise, turn off any lights, air conditioning units and other systems that aren’t essential. Toss out any perishable food. Ask your friends or neighbors to check your mail, water your houseplants, and keep an eye on things while you are away.

5. Pack the right amount

Remember you’ll have to carry everything you pack. Weight adds up quickly. Most people tend to overpack and end using less than 50% of what they bring. What you need will vary significantly from destination to destination. Even if you plan to travel for quite a while, you only need about a week’s worth of clothes.

Nearly every hotel in the world has laundry facilities and you can always buy a jacket, underwear, and socks if you need to. Think economically. You’ll want to reuse pants and shirts a couple of times. For most leisure travel, a couple of pairs of paints, three of four t-shirts, and a nice outfit should cover most of your needs. The same is true with shoes, which can be heavy and take up a lot of space. Go for “crossover” style shoes, which can be used on both informal and formal occasions.